Float-valve



(No Model.)

W. RADLEY.

FLOAT VALVE.

No. 547,228. Patented 001;v l, 1895.

' a j a- ANDREW B GRAHAM PHOTO-umn WASHINGTON DC 'PATENT EEECE.

WILLIAM RADLEY, OF SANDWICH, ILLINOIS.

Y FLOAT-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,228, dated October1, 1 895.

Application filed October 4, 1894. Serial No. 524,864. (No model.)

To all whom 1515 may concern.'

Be it known that I, VILLIAM RADLEY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Sandwich, in the county of De Kalb, in the State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFloat-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in float-valves, having todo especially with the acquiring of greater power and ease ofadjustment, together with compa-cinese and durability of construction.

To such end the invention consists in oertain structural features, whichwill be fully described and definitely claimed in the followingspecification.

The drawings show three figures for the purpose of illustrating myimprovements, of which- Figure l is a vertical diametrical section of afloat-valve in the plane of the handle. Fig. 2 is a similar sectionshowing the adjustment for a different use, and Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection looking downward from line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the base of the valve is lettered A and is providedwith an annular valve-seat ct, preferably of Babbitt metal andsurrounding a circular opening or port a. A double yoke Bis securedtothe opposite sides of the base A and spans the valve at a sufficientheight to permit of the working of the valve within. The valve itself Cis preferably provided upon its under face with a rubber cushion c, heldto the valve by an annular plate c. At one side of the'valveis aprojectiou c2 containing a vertically-elongated slot c3. This projectionextends between the two members of the double yoke, and a pin b ispassed through said members and the slot, loosely pivoting the valve inthe yoke. This pivot guides the general movement of the valve, butsufficient play is allowed by means of the slot to insure the perfectseating of the valve throughout its bearing-surface. Upon the top of thevalve-G are two brackets c4, upon opposite sides of the center, and awedge D is provided of the proper width to slip between these brackets.A set-screw E holds the wedge to the valve, and a slot d, through whichsaid set-screw passes, enables the wedge to be adjusted lengthwise.Above this wedge a pin c5 furnishes a loose pivot for a link F, pivotedat its opposite end by means of a pin f to one of the short arms g of aT-shaped lever G, `which is pivoted to the center portions of the twomembers ot' the yoke B by means of the pin b', passing through thejunction4 of the three arms of the T-lever. The link F extends upwardand laterally to form an arm f, carrying a pin f2, which bears againstthe arm g of the T-lever when in the position seen in Fig. l, and thelower end of the linkis of sufficient lengthvto bear upon the wedge Dbefore it reaches the downward limit of its play upon the pin c5.

The common use of this valve is upon the inlet-pipe which enters throughthe bottom or sides ot a tank designed to contain water or other liquid.The base of the valve A is secured by suitable means (not here shown) tothe upwardly-projecting end of the inletpipe, and a float resting uponthe top of the water is connected by means of a cord, wire, or chainwith the long arm of the 'T`-lever, the length of the connecting devicebeing so proportioned that the long end of said handle or lever will notbe raised until the surface of the water has reached the limit beyondwhich itis not desired to go. The weight of the handle when the valve isadjusted in this way holds the parts in the position shown by dottedlines in Fig. 1, where the valve is seen as wide open. When the waterhas risen to the predetermined limit, the lioat raises the handle untilthe position shown in full lines in Fig. l is reached, when the shortarm g of the T-lever G and the link F are almost in line, so that theprincipal force of the water beneath the valve is sustained by the yokeB, and but little force is required to be applied to the handle G tokeep the valve closed. The pin f2 acts as a stop to prevent the pivot f,between the short arm g and the link F, from reaching the center linebetween the pivots b and c5 and thus locking the valve and preventingits free opening when lthe pull of the float is relieved. Thehorizontally-movable wedge D enables the pressure upon the valve whenthis stop is reached to be adjusted to a nicety and provides means foraccommodating thevalve to any difference of thickness in case the rubbersurfacing c should need to be replaced.

IOS

These valves are also used upon outlet-pi pes for the purpose of openingsaid pipes when the Water has reached a predetermined level, and forthat purpose the handle is provided.

with a second short arm g at a slightly-different angle to the long arm,and the change from an inlet to an outlet pipe is accomplished byremoving the pin f, throwing the long arm ot' the lever G over into theposition 'seen in Fig. 2, and replacing the pin f to connect the shortarm g with the link F. In this position the operation ofthe valve isexactly reversed, although the Working parts are substantially the sameand operate in the same manner.

The construction above described makes up a valve of immense power whenin proper adjustment. The possibility of a nice adjustment enables thetoggle formed by the linkF and one ofthe short arms of the handle leverto be brought almost or quite into a straight line at the time of thepressure ofthe valve upon its seat reaches the predetermined maximum,and the stop f2 prevents the passing of the center line of the toggle.

I claim as new and desire to secure Letters Patent- 1. The combination,in a fioat valve, of a valve seat, a hinged valve, a link pivoted to thevalve at one end and an operating lever having three arms one of whichis adapted for connection with the float, and the other two are arrangedat different angles to the first and adapted to be alternately pivotedto the other end of the link, whereby the lever may be operated uponeither side ot the valve and yet Work at a convenient angle to thevalve; substantially as described.

2. The combination With avalve, of a horizontally adjustable Wedge uponits outersurface, an operating lever connected to the valve by means ofa link pivoted to said valve above the Wedge, the joint at the latterpivot being sutliciently loose to allow the end of the link to bear uponthe Wedge, and also to permit of the adjustment ofthe latter;substantially as described.

3. The combination with a valve, of the seat, A, the yoke, B, the valve,C, loosely piv oted to the yoke andbearing upon its surface thelaterally adjustable Wedge, D, and the brackets, c4, the operatinglever, Gr, pivoted to the yoke substantially above the center ot thevalve and having an arm extending in the direction of said valve, alink, F, pivoted to the end of said arm and also tothe brack ets, c4,and having sutlicient play upon the latter pivot to allow the end of thelink to rest upon the Wedge, D, in all of its desired adjustments, and astop, f2, to prevent the link and the arm to which it is pivoted frompassing from one side tothe other ot' a straight line; substantially asdescribed.

' 'WILLIAM RADLEY. Witnesses:

CHARLES O. SHERVEY, A. J. II. EBBESEN.

